Application Notes

In agriculture, evapotranspiration (ET), or the flux of water from a vegetated surface via both evaporation (E) and transpiration (T) by plants, is an important component of the water budget. In these guidelines, we demonstrate how laser-based absorption spectroscopy, and in particular, Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy (CRDS), can be applied to many steps of ET analyses.

Measurement and control of contaminants is critical in a variety of industrial applications including power generation, petrochemical processing, and semiconductor manufacturing. In many cases, the measurement of critical contaminants at parts per billion (ppb) levels is required to achieve optimal process control or safeguard valuable work-in-process material.

Picarro has developed a new analyzer capable of simultaneously measuring five gases: N2O, CH4, CO2,NH3, and H2O. This paper demonstrates the ability of this analyzer to measure soil fluxes when connected to a static chamber as part of a closed system.

Natural ecosystems have long been the focus of flux research, however characterizing the complexities of the urban environment is also critical to understanding global cycles. Wade McGillis from Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory has deployed the Picarro flux instrument (G2311-f) on the largest greenroof, the main post office building in Manhattan.

Induction Module-Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy is used to demonstrate how cheese retains its local environmental stable isotopic signature of water. This should allow differentiation of products made in different locales and is an ideal approach for food/ingredient fraud detection.